EIC Q1 2026 Barometer: long-lead RFP activity climbs to 122% of 2019, Asia Pacific strongest at 131%

The Events Industry Council released the Q1 2026 Global Business Events Barometer, reporting continued long-term confidence despite geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Global hotel group room nights averaged 92% of 2019 levels, while overall request-for-proposal activity for future events stayed above pre-pandemic levels at 101%. The clearest signal came from long-lead bookings: RFP activity for events scheduled more than 12 months out reached 122% of 2019 levels, up from 115% the previous quarter. By region, RFP activity was strongest in Asia Pacific at 131%, followed by North America at 124%, Western Europe at 120% and Latin America and the Caribbean at 114%, all above 2019 levels. Hotel group room nights held up best in North America and Latin America, each at 96% of 2019. EIC cautioned that even with a resolution, the effects of the Middle East conflict on business events would take time to dissipate. The Barometer is produced with Oxford Economics using data from Amadeus MeetingBroker, Cvent, STR and CEIR, and was launched in 2023.